Cushioned harness clamp



Nov. 18, 1952 THOMAS 2,618,450

CUSHIONED HARNESS CLAMP Filed Feb. 14, 1950 H0 W41?!) 1? ZZZ/OM43,

I N V EN TOR.

$9 a. CUM

A 7 TOl-ENE Y.

Patented Nov. 18, 1952 CUSHI-ONED HARNESS CLAMP rth Hollywood,:Ca.lif., as- Associates, Los Angeles,

.Howard P. .ThomaaNo ,signor to Thomas Calif a partnership Application-February 14, 1950, SerialNo. 144,066 7 Claims. .(Cl. 248-74) :1 This invention relates-tea cushioned line support of thetype known .as-a harnessclamp and which is-particularly designedto support a group of electrical conductor wires in aircraft, but may be used for supportingconduit lines or wire-sin F places other than 7 aircraft.

One of the 1 objects of this invention is to provide a cushioned har-ness clamp of the character described, which is comparatively simple as to constructionymay be readilyandeasily installed and removed, has acomparatively large wire supporting capacityinconsiderationof its: size; holds the wires grouped in small compass, andprevents chafingand wear of and securely holds the wires againstderangementand accidental dislodgment from the clamp.

Another object is to provide a clampsuch as described, in which the cushioning means thereof isconstructedtoserve as a separator and closure, for effectively spacing .the wires from contact with the structural member to which the "clamp is secured and sealing the wires in :the clamp. This makes .it possible advantageously to form theimetahbody of theclampaswan open loop, for exampleoi a simple U-shape, whereby the loop hasa larger capacity, :provides for aneasier insertion :and removal .of :the -.wires, a simplified construction, and a reduced .cost of production, compared to harness clamps wherein a metal strap .encircleszthe wires.

A further object is to provide a clamp such as described, wherein acushioning strip the body of the clamp is provided withan extension meansfor bridging the gap at the open side 10f the body to spacethewires from the structural-memher on which the clamp .is .mounted, .hold the wiresin theclamp and serve asa cushioned seat therefor.

Another object is to provide in a clamp such as described, a cushioning striphaving apair of flap-like extensions adapted to overlap and extend across .the openside of :theclampasa closure therefor.

vAdditionally, .it is an object hereof :to provide a cushioned clamp such .as described, wherein one of the pair-of flap-like extensions is considerably thicker than the other and provided with a groove to receive the other extension and hold saidext'ensions-against lateral displacement from overlapping and clamp-closing position, thereby so more effectively spacing the wires from thestructure on which the clamp is'mounted, increasing the cushioning action andassuring that the wires will be securely held in place' in theclamp.

This invention possesses many other advantages and has other objects which may beinade more easily apparent from a consideration of one embodiment'of the invention. For-this'purpose there-is shown one form in the drawings accompanying and forming partof the present specification. This form will now be described in detaiL'illustrating the general principles of=the invention; but it is to be understood that this detailed description is not to be taken-inali-niiting sense, since the scope of the invention 'is best defined by the appended claims.

Referring to the drawings:

Figure '1 is a perspective view of a cushioned harness clamp embodying the present invention;

Figure 2 is a-side elevation-of the clamp asait would appear when in use, the phantom showing indicating a group of wires or'a conduitas supported in the clamp;

Figure 3 is a crosssectional view takenon the line 3-3 of Figure 2;

Figure 4 is a vertical section taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 2; and

Figure Sis a vertical section taken on the lin'e 5-5 of Figure 2.

Referring to the drawings 8 designates the body-member of-the clamp which is made of a single piece of somewhat resilient and light strap metal, bent to form an open loop, preferably of a U-shape,and provided with laterally extended andapertured ends forming ears .1 whereby the clamp may be'secured to a structural member or support .A, as shown in Figure 2, *by means of suitable fastenings 8 inserted through said ears.

Mounted on the "body member .6, as a cushion lining for the inner side thereof, -is a cushion strip e formed of somewhat soft and resilient rubber or synthetic rubber and held in place by means of rebent marginal flanges 19 formed .integral therewith and .which'embrace the-side edges of the body member 6 as plainly shown inFigures 1 and '6. These flanges terminate in closelyspaced relation to the ears and make it possible readily to mount and remove the cushion strip, thus facilitating replacement thereof when necessary.

more specifically,

strip 12 in place.

In order to effectively close the open side of the clamp for securely holding the wires in place therein, and to provide for spacing the wires as shown in Figure 2 from the structural member on which the clamp is mounted, to prevent chafing and wear of the wires, the cushion strip is provided with extension means which serves these purposes, and preferably, this means is formed integrally with the strip and is subject to free movement into positions for fully opening and closing the clamp.

As here shown the cushion strip 9 has a pair of integral flap-like extensions H and I2 at its ends, which are of substantially equal length and extend beyond the ends of the open loop and will substantially bridge the gap between the ends of the clamp when overlapped, thereby providing a full closure for the open side of the clamp as shown in Figure 2. Preferably each extension is of such length as to substantially bridge the gap between the ends of the open loop.

In accordance with the invention, one of the extensions, for example, the extension i2, is of much greater thickness than the extension H and is adapted to overlie the latter, thereby considerably spacing the wires from the structural member on which the clamp is mounted and providing a more substantial closure assuring the proper retention of the wires in the clamp as well as forming a better cushioning seat for the wires.

Provision is made for interlocking the extensions H and i2 in overlapped relation to prevent relative lateral displacement thereof. As here shown, the extension I2 is formed with a groove !3 extending lengthwise thereof, or in other words is of channeled form, and the extension H fits snugly as shown in Figure 4 in the groove or channel l3, thereby preventing relative lateral displacement of the extensions.

As a practicable way of making the extension l2 thicker than extension H, a separate strip i l of the cushioning material and of channelled form, is vulcanized to the extension [2 with the latter disposed in the channel thereof, and wherein said channel forms the groove l3. This is shown in Figure l, it being noted that the channel or groove of the strip i4 is of such depth as to define opposed shoulders :5 which abut the side edges of and positively hold the The strip id is considerably Wider than the strips H and I2, and in being vulcanized to strip i2, becomes a part thereof and makes strip l2 in efiect wider than strip H, thus providing a wide seat against the structural member and a more effective spacing and closing action assuring that the wires will be held in the clamp and will be protected against chafing and wear.

Regardless of the formation of one of the extensions H and i2 thicker than the other, or in having both extensions relatively thicker than the portion of the cushion strip overlying the inner side body of the clamp, which is conceivable as within the scope of this invention, the two-Way and overlapped, extensions H and I2 positively prevent the wires from working out of the clamp at the upper corners and from rubbing against the metal body at said corners, and becoming chafed or worn.

If desired, the separate spacer piece vule canized to the extension 12, may be made of softer material than the cushion proper so as to be compressible readily for accommodating a larger bundle of wires in the clamp than would be the case with a strip of lesser compressibility.

Moreover, such a soft strip will prevent the application of such pressure on the wires as might produce chafing and wear, or deformation thereof.

The flexibility of the strip I6 is increased by forming the flange portions l6 thereof with inwardly beveled outer edges it, as this formation presents relatively flexible edge portion for contact with thebundle of wires or conduit supported in the clamp.

While the clamp hereof is primarily intended for supporting wires, it is to be understood that it may be used for supporting other lines such as metal conduits, piping, and the like where a cushioned mounting thereof is desired.

I claim:

1. In a cushioned clamp for supporting wires or a conduit, a body member in the form of an open loop for embracing and supporting the wires or conduit, a cushion strip lining the inner surface of said loop, means for mounting the loop on a support; and a pair of extensions on said strip movable into position closing the open side of the loop and so as to lie one upon the other.

2. In a cushioned clamp for supporting wires or a conduit, a body member in the form of an open loop for embracing and supporting the wires or conduit, a cushion strip lining said loop, ears on the ends of said open loop affording the mounting of the loop on a support, and a pair of extensions on said strip formed of cushioning material and arranged to be overlapped and to extend between the ends of the loop so as to enclose the Wires or conduits in the open loop.

3. In a cushioned clamp for supporting wires or a conduit, a body member in the form of an open loop for embracing and supporting the wires or conduit, a cushion strip lining the inner surface of said loop, means for mounting the loop on a support; and a pair of extensions on wires on conduit, a cushion strip lining the inner.

surface of said loop, means for mounting the loop on a support; and a pair of extensions on said strip movable into position closing the open side of the loop and so as to lie one upon the other, one of said extensions being wider than the other.

5. In a cushioned clamp for supporting wires or a conduit, a body member in the form of an open loop for embracing and supporting the wires or conduit, a cushion striplining the inner surface of said loop, means for mounting the loop on a support; and a pair of extensions on said strip movable into position closing the open side of the loop and so as to lie one upon the other; one of said extensions being wider and thicker than the other extension.

6. In a cushioned clamp for supporting wires or a conduit, a body member in the form of an open loop for embracing and supporting the wires or conduit, a cushion strip lining the inner surface of said loop, means for mounting the loop on a support; and a pair of extensions on said strip movable into position closing the open side of the loop and so as to lie one upon the other;

one of said extensions having a groove therein reopen loop for embracing and supporting the wires 5 or conduit, a cushion strip lining the inner surface of said loop, means for mounting the loop on a support; and a pair of extensions on said strip movable into position closing the open side of the loop and so as to lie one upon the other; an elongated cushion member of channelled form and being of thicker formation than said extensions and vulcanized to one of said extensions and removably receiving the other extension in the channel thereof.

HOWARD P. THOMAS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,215,283 Adler Sept. 17, 1940 2,298,560 Harrison Oct. 13, 1942 2,331,258 Whote et al. Oct. 5, 1943 10 2,372,683 Robertson Apr. 3, 1945 2,393,063 Robertson Jan. 15, 1946 2,455,598 Michalenko Dec. '7, 1948 FOREIGN PATENTS 15 Number Country Date 541,574 Great Britain Dec. 2, 1941 

